Transcript Unit Three - Todd Rowe

Unit Three
The Ecozone Jigsaw
Curriculum Outcomes

2.0 – Students are expected to explain
human-environmental interactions within
ecozones.

2.1 – Explain the concept of ecozones.

2.2 – Identify and describe humanenvironmental interactions in selected
ecozones.

2.3 – Respond to issues influencing humanenvironmental interactions in a selected
ecozone.
Ecozones of Canada

The Ecozones of Canada are
divided into two parts.

5 Marine (water) Ecozones


This Ecozone will be covered in
another chapter.
15 Terrestrial (land) Ecozones

We will cover four of the fifteen
ecozones
Terrestrial Ecozones
1. Boreal Shield
2. Mixedwood Plains
3. Montane Cordillera
4. Prairies
Boreal Shield
-
The boreal, which means
forest is the largest biome
and natural ecosystem in the
world.
-
A biome is a large region on
the Earth, such as a rainforest
or desert, which is named for
the distinct characteristics of
the plants that live within it.
-
A ecosystem is a community
of plants and animals that
interact with one another and
with their physical
environment.
Boreal Shield (Big Wild)

The Boreal Shield is a combination of two
important natural features:

The rocky Canadian Shield.

The coniferous northern forest.
Boreal Shield Landscape

Glaciation developed thined soils, exposed
ancient granite bedrock, and many
depressions.

These depressions filled with water, forming
lakes, swamps and bogs.

It has a rich biodiversity of plants and animals.
Boreal Shield Vegetation

Black spruce is the most
common type of tree.

Hardy deciduous trees, such
as birch and poplar found on
the southern edge.

Lichens and shrubs like
blueberry bushes provide
food for the moose and
black bear.
Boreal Shield Wildlife

Larger mammals like black bear, lynx, coyote,
timber wolf and moose.

Smaller mammals like beaver, fox, marten,
otter, red squirrel and snowshoe hare, as well
fish and amphibians.

230 different types of birds
Boreal Shield Wildlife con’t

Newfoundland Labrador supports aquatic
animals like seals, whales, northern pike,
pickerel, trout, and smallmouth bass.

Bugs, included beetles, dragonflies,
misquitoes, etc. provided food for birds, fish
and frogs.
Boreal Shield Climate


Continential  A climate type with a wide
annual range of temperature and low
precipitation influenced by its location away
from the moderating influence of an ocean.
Maritime  A wet, moderate climate type that
is influenced by the closeness of an ocean.
Boreal Shield People

The Scattered communities support about 4
million people.

Aboriginals, as well as others, rely on the
resources like minerals, forestry, fishing,
farming and hunting.

People are also depended on businesses in
construction and tourism.
Boreal Shield

Turn to page 121 and do questions 1-4.
Mixedwood Plains
This is the smallest
ecozone covering only
9% of Canada’s total
land area.
More than 60% of the
total Canadain
population and is
home 50% of
Canada’s endangered
species.
Mixedwood Plains
Borders three of the five Great Lakes
and extends alond the St. Lawrence
Seaway to Quebec City.
Next door to its most important
trading partner-USA, which is
convenient for the transportation of
people and goods.
Mixedwood Plains Climate, Soil,
etc.
Relatively warm and moderate
climate.
Mainly flat land with rich fertile soils to
support agriculture and foodprocessing industries.
Produce such as fruits, vegetables
and wines.
Mixedwood Plains con’t
This region is called the Canadian Heartland and
an Industrial Powerhouse, where two-thirds of
the country’s goods are produced.
Around the area of Lake Ontario (Greater Golder
Horseshoe) is a dense concentration of industries
and commerce.
The larger region is known as the WindsorQuebec Corridor; industrial parks, heavy industry
(oil refineries) and rows of hydroelectric power
lines.
Mixwood Plains con’t
Tourism and
recreation are
important part of
this regions diverse
economy.
Niagara Falls,
Ontario Science
Centre, CN Tower,
Royal Ontario
Museum and old
Quebec City.
Mixedwood Plains con’t
100 people per square kilometre – ten
times denser than anywhere else in
Canada.
Ontario has 12.8 million residents with
90% living in Mixedwood Plains.
Quebec has 8 million with 80% living
in Montreal, Quebec City and TroisRivieres.
Mixedwood Plains
Argriculture, logging and the growth of cities have
completely changed this ecosystem.
More than 90% of the original wetlands have been
drained for farming and urban development.
This ecosystem originally consisted of thick, green
forest cover with a mix of coniferous trees (eastern
pine, red pine and hemlock).
Mixedwood Plains
This region also included abundance of
deciduous (sugar maple, red oak, and
white elm).
Most species have disappeared with the
exception of white-tailed deer, foxes, and
grey and black squirrels.
Some species have adapted including
coyotes, raccoons, mice, and groundhogs.
Mixedwood Plains
Turn to page 149 and do questions 1
& 2.
Montane Cordillera
• Most of this ecozone
lies in British
Columbia with about
10% in Alberta.
• Rows of mountains
are separated by wide
valleys, and a
plateau, which is an
area of elevated, flat
land.
Montane Cordillera
• Natural vegetation depends on its location on
the mountains or in the valleys.
• Windward (west) side of a mountain recieves
orographic precipitation creating dense
coniferous forest.
• Alpine tundra is found on the top of the
mountain where it is too cold and wind swept for
tree to grow.
Montane Cordillera
• Leeward (east) side of
the mountain do not
receive as much
precipitation and are
protected from the
westerly winds.
• Grasses and sagebrush
grow in the valleys of
these dry regions.
Montane Cordillera
• The beauti of watersheds, mountains and forests
provides an excellent opportunity for tourism and
recreation.
• Forestry is also an important industry in this
region providing many jobs.
• The soils is ideal for fruit farming and vineyards.
• Coal deposits have resulted in many mines.
Montane Cordillera
• Two major challenges:
1. Only 5% of the land is suitable for
agriculture.
2. Urban growth, industrialization, and
increasing tourism are causing
increasing pressure on the fresh water
supply of the ecozone.
Montane Cordillera
•
Turn to page 127 and do questions 1-4.
Prairie
 Appears flat, but has many
potholes and slough
(pronounced sloo) can be seen
due to glaciation.
 Many depressions are filled
with water supporting a wide
variety of plants and wildlife.
 During period of dry weather
this region experiences
drought.
Prairie
 River valleys with many small tributaries can
be seen flowing across Prairie land.
 The area includes many hills and eroded
badlands created by the erosion of
sedimentary rock.
 Gently rolling grasslands gives way to trees,
mainly aspen and poplar.
Prairie
 A continental climate can be found in this
region, dry with extreme range in temperature,
winters are cold and summers are hot.
 Climate is caused by: centre of continent,
Rocky Mountains is a barrier to rain-bearing
winds, dry arctic air making winters long and
cold, long distance from any large body of
waters.
Prairie
 Extreme summer thunderstorms and in some
case tornadoes.
 Lowest rainfall in Canada ranging from 250700 millimeters.
 Many farmers build shelterbelts and
windbreaks to protect farms from chinook
winds.
Prairie
 Grows many crops such as,
wheat, barley, canola, peas
and lentils.
 Livestock operations such as,
beef, dairy cattle and hogs.
 Soil has a thick layer of
topsoil providing rich, fertile
organic materal known as
humus.
Prairie
 Factors such as pesticides, over farming,
drought and over grazing by animals can
be determental to this ecozone.
 The economy for this region is the oil and
gas industry, agriculture and mining.
Prairie
 Turn to page 136-137 and do questions
1-5.
Protecting The Ecozones

United Nations guidelines suggested each
Country protect 12% of total land use.

All people involved with the use and
protection are called Stakeholders.

Stewardships involve taking care of
private land or donating land for protection.